Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

This is an ole' time favorite of my families, it's actually already in my Family Scrapbook Cookbook (Volume 2) and it's a dessert I've made before, just never photographed and blogged. So, today here it is a good ole' fashion homemade cookie dessert bar.

It's a Sunday afternoon and the reality of my twins being 1837 miles away at college, is really starting to set in (it's been 7 months now and I miss them terribly). It's very lonely here without all my kidlets at home. I still have my 13 year old son at home, but he is away at a birthday party and today mama is all alone and needs a few more hobbies.

I am coming off of having the flu for 7 days, trust me when I say this, "you do NOT want this horrible flu in your home", it's so awful. I haven't been sick like this is many many years and it's been over a week and I am still recovering. Let's move on though to this delicious dessert instead...

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookie Bars
recipe source unknown

1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 pkg Pillsbury Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie (or a homemade cookie dough)

Heat oven to 350. In small bowl beat cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth.

You can use refrigerated cookie dough or make your favorite homemade cookie dough from scratch. In ungreased 8x8 square pan, break up half of the cookie dough and with floured fingers press dough evenly in the bottom of the pan to form a crust.  Spread cream cheese mixture over dough. Crumble and sprinkle remaining half of dough over cream cheese mixture before baking.

Bake for 35 - 40 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool for 30 minutes and then refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Cut into bars and store in refrigerator.

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS #60 (MACARONI & CHEESE) and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese "Cheater Recipe"

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party

MACARONI & CHEESE

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese "Cheater Recipe"

Chrismas Celebrations got the best of me! And I forgot to post this on time! SO SORRY! We had a lovely Christmas and now we are preparing for all of our family to come from out of town for a big wedding this Friday! (I better get up and clean my house ASAP... I will be hosting my cousin and his family of four here from Washington)! But, before I go I wanted to share an amazing "cheater" recipe. It takes that AMAZING Blue Kraft box and makes it even better! I LOVE KRAFT MACARONI & CHEESE.

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese "Cheater Recipe"

recipe source unknown

1 box Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (make as directed on box)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup grated Cheddar Cheese
1/4 tsp Cheyenne Pepper
6 to 8 Ritz Crackers
1 tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350. Make box of Macaroni & Cheese as directed. Then mix the finished Macaroni & Cheese with the sour cream and 1/2 cup of Cheddar Cheese and Cheyenne Pepper. Crush the Ritz Crackers and then mix with the melted butter. Pour Macaroni and Cheese mixture into an 8x8 baking pan. Cover with 1/2 cup cheese and ritz cracker mixture and bake for 20 minutes.

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This Week's Cravings Upcoming Linky "THEMES"

Here is a complete list of the past and what's coming up next on THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS!

January 2 - Let's Get Healthy (Healthy Meals & Snacks)

January 9 - Comfort Food (Soups & Casseroles)

January 16 - CHEESE LOVER DAY... any cheese recipe

January 23 - Homemade Pies (Dessert or Meals)

If you are new here browse around some past weeks at THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS and you'll see why we are having so much fun and we invite you to link up too. Your hostess for this party are: Tina from MOMS CRAZY COOKING, Angela from Big Bear's Wife, Nicole from The Daily Dish and Kristi from Veggie Converter. We host this theme linky party every Monday (and the party stays open all week long)! We hope to inspire you to make something with our theme or get an old post notice by linking it up to the linky party below.

If you are a regular, link-up we're excited to see what you made this week. Just follow our simple rules, so that everyone can enjoy the linky party! If you forget to follow the theme, your post will be deleted. Please don't feel hurt, just come back and link up a recipe that follows the theme. Thanks a million, we look forward to blogging with you!

The LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week!

PLEASE do not link more then 3 recipes per week.
This week's theme is: MACARONI & CHEESE
Please only link recipes with our theme!

This week's theme is: MACARONI & CHEESE
Please only link recipes with our theme!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES (Day 2): S'more Chocolate Chip Cookies

Day 2 of 12 Days of Christmas Goodies

S'more Chocolate Chip Cookies

My daughter was so proud of these cookies a few years back when we first made them for her high school cheer team. We had a cookie swap party. I can still remember all of the dozens of cookies that were hand made and brought to the event, it was incredible. This chocolate chip cookie recipe took a lot of work, because first we had to find the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie (I can not even tell you how many batches we made), but the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe was out there (and yep, we found it). Then with the added melted chocolate and marshmallow on top, which made it the perfect BIG KID S'more! I think for sure these should be included in my goodie boxes this year! The classic chocolate chip cookie with a s'more twist and a little bit of red and green bling to top it off!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas (only in my kitchen)!

House is NOT decorated yet!

Outside lights are NOT up yet (maybe Sunday)!

Operation Christmas Child boxes are NOT complete!

but our Christmas baking is IN PROGRESS! Ah, I am so behind!

Grab Our Button & the Blog Hop Code if you wish to display the Linky on your own Blog. Or just link up and play along with us as we gather a ton of THEME recipes for the next 12 days.

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S'more Chocolate Chip Cookies
recipe source unknown

Make a batch of your FAVORITE Chocolate Chip Cookies, let them cool and then add the S'more topping. Spoon on a small scoop of melted chocolate, and then a scoop of marshmallow creme, sprinkle with red and green sprinkles of any kind and let dry. We did both ways marshmallow on top or chocolate on top and it really makes no difference except we like the white on top for the sprinkles to stand out!

Here is our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.

Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

recipe source unknown

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg & 1 egg yolk

2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325. Grease cookie sheets. Sift together flour, baking soda & salt; set aside. In a medium bowl , cream together melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in vanilla and eggs until light and creamy, mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips by hand. Drop cookie dough on to cookie sheets and bake 10-12 minutes.

This Post is linked to some of these FABULOUS Linky Parties!

We will be having a linky party for the first 12 days in Decmeber. It's a BLOG HOP Party, so if you wish you can grab the blog hop code below or just link up some of your recipes with our THEME.

Here is a SNEAK PEAK of what's coming up and what's been happening.....

All the Blog Hops will be OPEN until Christmas Day (so there is plenty of time to link up)!

Day 1 - Candy Bark "Pretzel Bark"
Day 2 - Christmas Cookies "S'more Chocolate Chip Cookies"
Day 3 - Bread & Muffins "Reese's Peanut Butter Banana Bread"
Day 4 - Truffles "Egg Nog Truffles"
Day 5 - Cupcakes "Apple Pie Cupcakes"

Day 6 - Snowman "Anything SNOWMAN"

Day 7 - Fudge "Butterfinger Fudge"

Day 8 - Cake Pops or Cake Balls "Red Velvet Cake Balls - Reindeer"

Day 9 - Gifts in a Jar "Peppermint Hot Chocolate in a Jar"

Day 10 - Sugar Cookies "Swirl Sugar Cookies"

Day 11 - Homemade Candy "Peanut Butter Cups"

Day 12 - Anything Candy Cane "White Chocolate Candy Cane Pudding Cookies"

Today's Theme is CHRISTMAS COOKIES!

We'd love to see all the different kinds of Christmas Cookies!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES (Day 1): Pretzel Bark

Day 1 of the 12 Days of Christmas Goodies

Pretzel Bark

Can you believe December is here? It's really here folks! Ready or not Christmas is just 24 days away. Are you ready? Are you baking? Is all your shopping done? (NO, NO and NO are my answers). But have no fear.. baking time is finally here!!! (hehe) and I am SO ready to get in my kitchen and start baking (that is as long as my stove is not broken, yes we had a scare last night... let's pray it's not true)! I love baking all year-round but at Christmas time I have a reason to bake. And I take that to the limit each and every year. I love giving away my baked goodies and I am so excited to be baking with all of you for the next 12 days. Yep, we are going to kick of December baking everyday for 12 days. Making something new each day, and then giving it away.

Each year I give away about 40 to 60 containers of Christmas Goodies to friends, family, neighbors, teachers, co-workers, coaches and more. This year will be no different and what better way to get started then with my 12 Days of Christmas Goodies (and no I am NOT prepared, I didn't bake all this stuff a month ago, like I wanted, so I will be baking one item each day for the next 12 days right along with you guys)! Are you READY to get started? I know I am.

Today, we are going to explore BARK, Candy Bark or whatever kind of bark you can think of, I am making Pretzel Bark today. Salty & Sweet. I've made quite a few versions of bark over the years. Last year I made Christmas Candy Bark and still our all-time favorite is Cranberry Crunch Bark. I hope that all of you jump up and get into the kitchen to make some bark today. It's easy, it's simples. it's quick and can be done with so many things you already have in the kitchen. Wrap them up in a little festive bag with a bow and you've got your first holiday gifts to give away. I think this is the perfect gift to give to co-workers, neighbors or kids teachers & coaches. And you don't need to wait til Christmas time (when everyone is sharing baked goodies.... start now so they can enjoy them now... before their hands are overloaded and they can't eat it all).

Grab Our Button & the Blog Hop Code if you wish to display the Linky on your own Blog. Or just link up and play along with us as we gather a ton of THEME recipes for the next 12 days.

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Pretzel Bark
recipe source unknown

1 cup chopped Pretzel
1/3 cup chopped toasted almonds
1-1/2 semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Stir pretzels and nuts into melted chocolate; spread onto waxed paper covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with colored sprinkles. Let set, break into pieces.

This Post is linked to some of these FABULOUS Linky Parties!

We will be having a linky party for the first 12 days in Decmeber. It's a BLOG HOP Party, so if you wish you can grab the blog hop code below or just link up some of your recipes with our THEME.

Here is a SNEAK PEAK of what's coming up and what's been happening.....

All the Blog Hops will be OPEN until Christmas Day (so there is plenty of time to link up)!

Day 1 - Candy Bark "Pretzel Bark"
Day 2 - Christmas Cookies "S'more Chocolate Chip Cookies"
Day 3 - Bread & Muffins "Reese's Peanut Butter Banana Bread"
Day 4 - Truffles "Egg Nog Truffles"
Day 5 - Cupcakes "Apple Pie Cupcakes"

Day 6 - Snowman "Anything SNOWMAN"

Day 7 - Fudge "Butterfinger Fudge"

Day 8 - Cake Pops or Cake Balls "Red Velvet Cake Balls - Reindeer"

Day 9 - Gifts in a Jar "Peppermint Hot Chocolate in a Jar"

Day 10 - Sugar Cookies "Swirl Sugar Cookies"

Day 11 - Homemade Candy "Peanut Butter Cups"

Day 12 - Anything Candy Cane "White Chocolate Candy Cane Pudding Cookies"

Today's Theme is BARK!

We'd love to see all the different kinds of barks you can create!

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS #57 (FRENCH TOAST, PANCAKES & WAFFLES) and Cinnamon French Toast Bake

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party

FRENCH TOAST, PANCAKES & WAFFLES

Cinnamon French Toast Bake

It's National French Toast Day, today! Yep, let's all eat a delicious breakfast today smothered in our favorite toppings. Ours is just plain old maple syrup and powdered sugar. I made this French Toast Bake for the first time a few years ago on Christmas morning. It was so easy to put together, no standing over the stove cooking a big breakfast on such a busy day. It baked while we opened gifts and when the timer went off, we all dug in. EASY! This time I made in before school and my kids were so happy to have a special treat instead of just cereal. It's quick and easy to put together and you can be busy doing other things while it's cooking.

Cinnamon French Toast Bake

from Pillsbury

1/4 cup butter, melted
2 cans Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with Icing
6 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tsp vanilla
 2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chopped Pecans
1 cup maple syrup

Icing from Cinnamon Rolls
Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup

Heat oven to 375. Pour Melted butter into ungreased 13x9 glass baking dish. Separate both cans of dough; set icing aside. Cut each cinnamon roll into 6 pieces; place pieces into the melted butter dish.

In medium bowl, beat eggs. Beat in cream, vanilla and cinnamon until well blended; gently pour over roll pieces. Sprinkle with pecans; drizzle with 1 cup of syrup over the top. Bake 20 to 28 minutes or until golden brown and finished. Cool 15 minutes.

After your dish has cooled, slightly microwave icing for 10 seconds. Drizzle icing over top, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with additional maple syrup if desired.

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This Week's Cravings Upcoming Linky "THEMES"

Here is a complete list of the past and what's coming up next on THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS!

December 5 - Christmas Baking: Sweets, Treats, Candy & Gift Ideas

December 12 - Macaroni and Cheese

December 19 - Christmas Dinner & Holiday Food Traditions

December 26 - Appetizers & Party Platters

If you are new here browse around some past weeks at THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS and you'll see why we are having so much fun and we invite you to link up too. Your hostess for this party are: Tina from MOMS CRAZY COOKING, Kristen from From My Tiny Kitchen, Angela from Big Bear's Wife, Nicole from The Daily Dish and Kristi from Veggie Converter. We host this theme linky party every Monday (and the party stays open all week long)! We hope to inspire you to make something with our theme or get an old post notice by linking it up to the linky party below.

If you are a regular, link-up we're excited to see what you made this week. Just follow our simple rules, so that everyone can enjoy the linky party! If you forget to follow the theme, your post will be deleted. Please don't feel hurt, just come back and link up a recipe that follows the theme. Thanks a million, we look forward to blogging with you!

The LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week!

PLEASE do not link more then 3 recipes per week.
This week's theme is: FRENCH TOAST, PANCAKES & WAFFLES
Please only link recipes with our theme!

This week's theme is: FRENCH TOAST, PANCAKES & WAFFLES
Please only link recipes with our theme!

Pumpkin Bars: Thanksgiving Feast 2011

It's time for dessert! I hope you have enjoyed the last 7 days of our Thanksgiving Feast. This Thanksgiving Feast was quick an easy, one new recipe for each food group to help give you some new ideas to add to your own Thanksgiving meal. I know most people aren't brave enough to create all new recipes for one meal, but trying one or two new recipes this year would be a great change and maybe you'll find a new favorite. This cake is another one of my husband's family favorites.

Thanksgiving Feast

Turkey with Apples & Butter

Olive Garden Bread Sticks; Copycat Recipe

Pepper Jack Macaroni & Cheese

Crash Hot Potatoes from Pioneer Woman

Grandma's Baked Corn Casserole

Cranberry & Sausage Stuffing

Cranberry-Pomegranate Sauce from Pioneer Woman

Grandma's Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars

from Grandma Hudgens

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups of pumpkin (we used our fresh puree' pumpkin)
1 cup vegetable oil

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl (except the sugar). Cream the eggs and sugar together, then add the pumpkin and oil, continue mixing until well combined. Mix the wet and the dry together and then pour into a greased jelly roll. (You must use a jelly roll. This is a deep cookie sheet very large and very thin. approx size 15-1/2 x 10-1/2. The first time I made these I used a 9x13 pan and they did NOT come out right)

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, use tooth pick to test.

Pumpkin Bar Icing

from Grandma Hudgens

3 oz cream cheese

3/4 stick of butter

1 tsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

1-3/4 cups of powered sugar

Beat all ingredients together and spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

This was another recipe during my one-year of cooking everyday where I tried several other pumpkin bar recipes and this one proved to still be the number one choice for everyone.

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS #56 (THANKSGIVING) and Cranberry & Sausage Stuffing: Thanksgiving Feast 2011

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party

THANKSGIVING DINNERS & DESSERTS

Cranberry & Sausage Stuffing

Today is THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party and also I am sharing another recipe for my Thanksgiving Feast 2011. I have to say this is the BEST stuffing recipe I have ever eaten. Once in a while I come across those recipes where, THIS IS IT! This is thee recipe. thee one and only recipe I will ever need. I have had a few of those in my life so far and I can honestly say that I don't even try another recipe for that particular item. I like it, my family likes it and my daughter keeps telling me "if it's not broken, don't fix it". They don't understand why I always have to re-make something, make it in a different way, change it up, etc etc. They are always saying what happened to the way you made it last time. So, anyhow, there are some recipes (very few) that I just like the way I like and I don't bother changing them and this my friends, this stuffing recipe, is that recipe.

Thanksgiving Feast

Turkey with Apples & Butter

Olive Garden Bread Sticks; Copycat Recipe

Pepper Jack Macaroni & Cheese

Crash Hot Potatoes from Pioneer Woman

Grandma's Baked Corn Casserole

Cranberry & Sausage Stuffing

Cranberry-Pomegranate Sauce from Pioneer Woman

Grandma's Pumpkin Bars

Cranberry & Sausage Stuffing
from Food Network Magazine (a long time ago)

1 lb sausage roll (we like Jimmy Dean)
1/2 cup butter
6 celery stalks, finely diced
1 medium onions, finely diced
1 (12 oz) package stuffing (Stove Top with Cranberries)
1 cup additional dried cranberries
1 tsp salt
1 to 1-1/2 cans chicken broth (original recipe calls for 2 cans, but I think it's too wet)

Preheat oven to 325. In a large skillet,, crumble and cook sausage until browned. Remove from pan, and in the same skillet melt butter. Saute' celery and onions until softened, about 5 minutes. In large bowl, combine celery, onions, sausage, stuffing, cranberries and salt. Add the broth and stir until well combined. Place into a casserole dish and cover. Bake at 325 for about 1 hour.

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This Week's Cravings Upcoming Linky "THEMES"

Here is a complete list of the past and what's coming up next on THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS!

November 28 - French Toast, Pancakes, Waffles & More

December 5 - Christmas Baking: Sweets, Treats, Candy & Gift Ideas

December 12 - Macaroni and Cheese

December 19 - Christmas Dinner & Holiday Food Traditions

If you are new here browse around some past weeks at THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS and you'll see why we are having so much fun and we invite you to link up too. Your hostess for this party are: Tina from MOMS CRAZY COOKING, Kristen from From My Tiny Kitchen, Angela from Big Bear's Wife, Nicole from The Daily Dish and Kristi from Veggie Converter. We host this theme linky party every Monday (and the party stays open all week long)! We hope to inspire you to make something with our theme or get an old post notice by linking it up to the linky party below.

If you are a regular, link-up we're excited to see what you made this week. Just follow our simple rules, so that everyone can enjoy the linky party! If you forget to follow the theme, your post will be deleted. Please don't feel hurt, just come back and link up a recipe that follows the theme. Thanks a million, we look forward to blogging with you!

The LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week!

PLEASE do not link more then 3 recipes per week.
This week's theme is: THANKSGIVING DINNER & DESSERT
Please only link recipes with our theme!

This week's theme is: THANKSGIVING
Please only link recipes with our theme!

Pepper Jack Macaroni and Cheese: Thanksgiving Feast 2011

I found this recipe way before my blogging days, I was doing a facebook page called "Cooking Everyday for a Year and Sharing My Recipes". That one year adventure lead me to so many new recipes, it was so much fun and it's what ultimately lead me to start this blog. During that time we were on a quest to find a perfect Macaroni & Cheese recipe that my family loved, this however is NOT that recipe (I still have to share our FAVORITE-FAVORITE Macaroni & Cheese recipe made from scratch) This recipe came as just an added bonus  that we found along the way. It's so different and it has an awesome KICK, so make sure you like spicy. If you love Pepper Jack Cheese then this is for you (just FYI the kids usually don't like it much). This can be the adult macaroni & cheese and you may need to make a separate dish for the kiddo's (try this Easy Macaroni & Cheese we served last year for Thanksgiving). And can you believe this cute little "Turkey" pasta I found. We have a World Market that always has unique pasta, but you can sometimes find it in grocery stores and other specialty stores. It's so fun to use!

Thanksgiving Feast

Turkey with Apples & Butter

Olive Garden Bread Sticks; Copycat Recipe

Pepper Jack Macaroni & Cheese

Crash Hot Potatoes from Pioneer Woman

Grandma's Baked Corn Casserole

Cranberry & Sausage Stuffing

Cranberry-Pomegranate Sauce from Pioneer Woman

Grandma's Pumpkin Bars

Pepper Jack Macaroni & Cheese

recipe source unknown

2 cups elbow macaroni

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups Pepper Jack Cheese, divided

1 can (12 oz) Evaporated Milk

1/3 tsp black pepper

1/2 cups broken tortilla chips

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a casserole dish. Cook macaroni in a large sauce pan according to package directions; drain. Return pasta to saucepan. Add cheddar cheese, 1-1/2 cups pepper jack cheese, evaporated milk and black pepper. Stir until melted and combined. Pour into baking dish. Combine remaining 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese, tortilla chips and red pepper flakes in a small bowl and sprinkle over top. Cover tightly with foil.

Bake for 20 minutes covered, uncover and bake for additional 10 minutes until lightly browned.

Turkey with Apples & Butter: Thanksgiving Feast 2011

Each day up to Thanksgiving I will be sharing with you recipes for a Thanksgiving Feast! This is new this year and the crazy thing is that in order to prepare these posts for you, my family and I have already enjoyed all of these foods. I have prepared two full Thanksgiving dinners this month (... and Thanksgiving hasn't even arrived). I guess this will make up the fact that I will not be home for Thanksgiving this year (and since I LOVE turkey sandwiches I needed my fix anyhow). And yes, turkey with white bread, so delicious! I have had so much fun experimenting and creating this 2011 Thanksgiving Feast.

Thanksgiving Feast

Turkey with Apples & Butter

Olive Garden Bread Sticks; Copycat Recipe

Pepper Jack Macaroni & Cheese

Crash Hot Potatoes from Pioneer Woman

Grandma's Baked Corn Casserole

Cranberry & Sausage Stuffing

Cranberry-Pomegranate Sauce from Pioneer Woman

Grandma's Pumpkin Bars

Turkey with Apples & Butter

adapted from friend, Carol Lee

1 Turkey

4 sticks of Butter

2 to 4 tbsp Herb de Provence

6 to 10 apples, green usually (but any juicy apple will work)

Thaw out and clean Turkey (remove the junk, and I discard it). Cut apples into slices (use a core/apple slicer). You can use all pieces of the apple and no need to peel. Begin stuffing apple and butter (I like to put on some gloves at this point), alternating everywhere. First I stuff into the back end, then separate the skin on the top from the meat and stuff with apples and butter. Then take about a stick of butter cut up into pieces and the rest of the apple slices and stuff into the cavity. I make sure it's all the way stuffed. Take about 1 stick of butter with Herb de Provence spice and rub together and then rub all over the outside of the Turkey. The apples let out so much juice and it makes the turkey so juicy, I just love making it this way and have never tried any other way.

I bake the Turkey according to the directions on the package, with the thermometer as my number one checking point. Each Turkey has it's own directions and hours for cooking, this is why I just follow the package and usually I do not have any problems. This Turkey took exactly the 3-1/2 hours it was scheduled to cook for.